Bought Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince yesterday and spent the whole day reading it twice. The first time I finished it I felt sad, the second time I finished it nearly in tears, even though I have a niggling feeling that it felt familar, as if it was adapted from another story. Even then, it affectd me the rest of the night and is still affecting me.
As usual, alot of thoughts flowing through my brain once again, and I hope I can encapsulate them here better than my post on 11 Jul 05.
Well on the story itself, I can only say that no matter how Rowling might be critisized for deviating too much from the plot sometimes, I’ll still support her style of writing. To me, a late convert to the Potter mania, I had read books 1-4 at a go, and really, I felt that I was growing and developing together with the characters. For example, Ginny. I remember how she just used to be this shy girl who went speechless whenever her crush, Harry appeared. By Book 5, and now Book 6, she has blossomed into a fearless and mature girl, who well not only attracts guys, but Harry too. I guess you’ll partly understand why I nearly cried at the closing pages, thats if you read the book. I just feel so sad for her. Well, back to the topic, I could really see her change, grow up, right before my eyes. It just seems as if I’ve been their unknown best friend for a long, long, while.
I realised after reading the book why I liked fiction so much, especially fantasy books: Escapism. Not sure if it was load of fantasy books and TV serials I watched when I was young that shaped me this way, but I’ve always been an idealistic person, choosing to believe in a world where good and evil are clearly drawn lines, where friends are fiercely loyal, where one can freely love and chase. I am really tired of all the struggling I face almost everyday, the true reality of life. Maybe thats why everyone calls me a dreamer and an idealist.
I can’t write anymore. I always seem to be so immersed in such plots, maybe one day I’ll just drown in them. But then, I think it would be a nice way to die.
“This is a book for children of mettle. It will reward them richly, but they must no whine, they must be sunny and true and, above all, brave. The ending is almost too much to bear. I haven’t cried so hard since Charlotte died.”
- Emily Green, Los Angeles Times
Taken from Life!, The Straits Times, 18 Jul 05
As per my sentiments, exactly.
Well, I sincerely hope that Ginny and Harry do not die, and that there is a good ending to the series. I’ll really cry this time if either, or both die.